It was a warm autumn day as I left my home in Ascalon city, around me the city seemed to shine golden. The white marble of the Royal Palace seemed to catch the sun, reflecting the beams down over the city inhabitants. The sun shone like orb of molten gold high above as I made my way down the hill. Lord Tydus, the Warmaster of Ascalon halted me as I walked past the gate of the Academy.
“You there, halt!” He called. “What’s your name?”
“Aimee Greenleaf.” I said quietly. A young man standing beside him giggled and Lord Tydus glared at him.
“You think that name is funny do you? Alaris Blackstone?” Tydus sneered at the youth and then turned back to me. “You’re old Dacian Greenleaf’s daughter?” He asked.
“Grand daughter.” I smiled at the memories of my grandfather. He had been kind to me after my father’s death, taking me and my younger brother in so my mother could work.
Lord Tydus nodded understandingly. “Right.” He said clearing his throat. “You and young Blackstone here. Outside the pair of you. Mistress Lena has a job for two young people. Oh and keep a look out for young Gwen from Ashford. Her mother is worried she’s wondered off again.”
“Probably in a scale’s belly by now.” Blackstone murmured softly, his eyes glazed over as if excited by the prospect of a little girls death.
“‘l’ll keep an eye out for her sir. I know her by sight. She’s most likely over on the other side of the river, there’s a patch of iris flowers grows fair thick there … it’s a girl thing.” I added with a shrug, feeling my face heat.
Lord Tydus cleared his throat again. “Right.” He stammered and looked at the pair of us. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“Yes, sir!” We both cried in unison and I signaled a salute, fist to chest as my grandfather had tought me. Lord Tydus’s eyes smiled, but his lips didn’t move.
Alaris Blackstone smirked at me and I could feel anger building. I quashed that thought. I had no quarrel with the warrior. He was big, almost as broad as he was tall. A thick-headed stupid warrior.
“Ready?” He asked, his lips twisting into a sneer.
I nodded, my fingers brushing the leather script of arrows that swung at my hip. He placed a hand on his sword hilt and I nearly laughed. Warriors. They were all the same. Stepping through the stone archway, I saw Lena standing by the Healer a few feet away. She was a pretty woman, tall and slender with her long dark hair tied back from her face in a long braid that hung almost to her knees.
“Sir Tydus said you needed us.” Alaris barked, his voice seemingly louder than normal against the background of chirping crickets and frogs. There was also the deeper hooting call of the skale from the river.
Lena looked at him coolly, her blue eyes almost like frost as she surveyed him. A young girl was by her side and I smiled at her.
“Hello Gwen.” I said softly. “Your mother -”
“Are you going to be Heroes?” Gwen asked quickly, the words tumbling over each other in their rush. “Lena was just reading me the Heroes of Tyria and -” She broke off as a loud hooting cough sounded. The girl shivered slightly. “I’m not cold.” Gwen added, glancing up at Lena admiringly. “I’ve lost my cloak, I was playing on the other side of the river and some nasty skale scared me, I ran and …” Once more Gwen broke off, her small face appearing sad as she scratched her nose. “I lost my flute too. It was my father’s.”
“We’ll find it for you.” Alaris said gently, his thick fingers brushed the top of the little girl’s head. “Don’t worry.”
Lena looked at him again, her eyes narrowing slightly and she held out a hand. Opening her palm she showed two small copper rings carved with the face of the Goddess Dwayna. “Here, take these.” She said quietly. “They will aid you. You may not become Heroes of Legend – or you may.” The priestess shrugged.
“May Dwayna illumine you.”
“And you, sister.” I said quietly. The rote seemed to fall naturally. Picking up the ring, it felt heavy as I slipped it onto my finger.
“It is a resurrection ring.” Lena added, her voice held a touch of warning. “You may only use it once to bring back to life that of another fallen person. It cannot be used on yourself. Return to town, any town and the ring will be recharged. Be steadfast.”
Alaris nodded and slid the ring onto his own finger, giving me a look that I did not quite understand. Not as if he was afraid. He turned away, heading behind Lena to where a walkway had been carved out of the cliff face that overlooked the river. A skale leaped suddenly towards him. A huge creature that stood on it’s hind legs with all too human arms and a fish head. It roared angrily at him as he pulled the sword from the belt at his waist and slashed at the beast. Growling himself as he did so.
I raised my bow, drawing the string back to my cheek and loosed. A second creature had come bounding towards us. They both fell together.
“Eugh! Yuck!” I heard a voice exclaim behind me. Turning, I saw Gwen was following us.
“Go home Gwen, or stay with Lena.” I said warningly.
“I’m coming with you.” She replied stubbornly and kicked the dead scale with the toe of her shoe. “Besides, you don’t know where I left my cape and flute.
I looked at Alaris helplessly. The warrior just shrugged his shoulders and turned around in time to cut another of the scale in two. I glared at his back and grabbed another arrow. Something told me I might need those two back again.
Blonde Ramblings 